The 3rd June 2011 Hastings Observer, on page 20, reported Cllr Godfrey Daniel suggesting that
Now that Mediation Support Ltd (whose CEO, Paul Crosland, edits this blog), have moved into the Southwater Area Community Centre, Ray Chapman called in to record this public film about Hastings Justice:
If you want to see the words from Ray Chapman's YouTube video in print, here they are:
"if a witness statement about the impact of the crime on all those affected was taken, it would be 'longer than most books in the universe'"We live in an age whereby as well as writing statements, anyone affected has the option of recording YouTube videos (anonymously or more publically); so my questions are:
Having shown the pier trustees a film called 'Burning Bridges' (about community meetings to deal with the consequences of an arson on a historic wooden bridge) in January 2011, by April (and before the lottery decision and the Crown Prosecution System's decision to drop the case against two individuals) Ray Chapman, chair of the Hastings Pier & White Rock Trust, recorded a video for those who were on the pier on the night of the fire. (That video is stored privately).
- Where is the material for those who were on the pier to watch or read so they can get a sense of what the impact was?
- What we can all do to move on in our lives, once the harm has been acknowledged and justice done?
Now that Mediation Support Ltd (whose CEO, Paul Crosland, edits this blog), have moved into the Southwater Area Community Centre, Ray Chapman called in to record this public film about Hastings Justice:
If you want to see the words from Ray Chapman's YouTube video in print, here they are:
"Hi, I'm Ray, the chair of trustees of the Hastings Pier & White Rock Trust and this is a communication to those of you who were on Hastings Pier on 5th October 2010.
Some of our trustees have been involved in the Hastings Pier & White Rock Trust for over four years in preparing the business case for the Heritage Lottery Foundation, in partnership with the Hastings Borough Council and English Heritage.
We have obviously heard repeatedly from a number of sources particular names and also a rumour that there may be more than two of you who were on the pier that night. If you were on the Pier on 5th October 2011, we have a conversation to have, its is in the interests of our community that we get a clear understanding of what happened on the pier that night. Many people were effected and want to live in a community without buildings catching alight under mysterious circumstances. The key is now for the town to get the pier up and running again as soon as possible. I hope that you'll be able to engage with the community and build bridges.
I've seen a film made in America called 'Burning Bridges' where six young men burnt a heritage bridge and they met with the community and got a deeper understanding of how everyone was affected. The community supported them to carry on living in that area and contributing to get them involved to repair the bridge. Who knows what the community will have, or even you will have, for us all to have a better future in Ore, St Leonards and Hastings? We learned, sadly. that not 'everyone loves the pier'. However some of the ideas from the recent consultation include concerts, raves, music, theme park rides and scoring most boat trips, cruising, lagoon, fishing, angling and green energy encompassing our heritage and also engineering and tourism for our local education providers. What do you think?
I am aware that other members of the community will be watching this and will have been affected by the pier fire. You too can also voice an opinion publicly or privately that will be passed on in due course to those people whose names we have been given.
The way we are doing this safely is through the -website www.peoplesjustice.org.uk "If you care to help this process, then please add a comment to this blog post. Alternatively, submit words and video eg via www.peoplesjustice.org.uk or just straight to YouTube, and drop a line to the mediation support ltd email or the peoplesjustice email so that I can put your message on this page.
1 comment:
I believe that this video approach is a good idea. Not only does it add to the transparency of what is going on to engage with those on the pier of Oct 5th 2010 it CHALLENGES them to come up with some kind of response.
Now, when I say CHALLENGE I put this word in block capitals not to shout and be rude but to highlight the fact that I do not mean words like, pressure, force or demand. It is vitally important those those on the pier in Oct 5th can be made top feel that their input IS wanted and that they will NOT be putting themselves into any danger by interacting with us.
Perhaps the reason the fire happened at all was because those allegedly responsible
had been feeling for some time that no-one was listening to them? We, as a community, must take responsibility for the pier fire at least to the point of finding out from those allegedly responsible why they did what they did.
I agree that there are plenty of people who do not love the pier and it could be that whatever the community tries to do to engage with those on the pier on Oct 5th 2010 will prove fruitless. I myself have witnessed abuse by locals while standing and looking forlornly at the remains of my beloved pier so I know what i am talking about.
All anyone can do is to try to reach out to these people, challenge them to explain their actions and ask them what if any role they would like to have in the rebirth of a new Hastings Pier - a Hastings Pier that would mean as much to them as the old one did to me and thousands of other people.
I would also like to challenge all involved or affected in the saga of the burning of Hastings Pier to think long and hard about forgiveness. that I truly believe CAN happen if those on the pier on Oct 5th 2010 really want to make it happen.
Over to you those on the pier Oct 5th 2010!
Post a Comment